Steering release mechanism



Aug. 31, 1943. c. G. DOTY 2,328,064

STEERING RELEASE MEC HANI SM Filed Nov. 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l five]? for.

V 62 4/ ,iaz -z/w/m 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 five/226275 Aug. 31, 1943. c c; DOTY STEERING RELEASE MECHANISM Filed Nov. '7, 1941 1.943- c; G. DOTY 2,328,064

STEERING RELEASE MECHANISM Filed NOV. 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "ecting the'instrumentality with mechanism oi the machi" r ing'i9 in saidgrille;

in and encompassed by the invention will become apparentwhen fully understanding 'the preferred embodiment thereof hereinafter described and Q shown'in the, accompanying. drawings, wherein:

Fig. l'is-a front perspective'fragmentaryview of amachine having mounted thereon cultivator instrumentality control apparatus constructed in ing thecropplants in a row therebetween from accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

, Fig. Z'jis nifragnientary respective view illus H trating the upper end 'of-thesteering' wheel spindle and parts of aklatch mechanism associated therewith;

V v Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a fluid-pres t. sure responsive motor, also shown in-Fig." 1; to- 'gether-witha universally pivotalsupportthere- .t

: and: 23 and constitute part- .of apparatus for adjusting the depth atwhich the shovels 26 operatefand for lifting the cultivating instrumentalities from the cultivating zone. The pressure rods 29 andSQ are surrounded by long he'iical springs for, for disengaging the latch mechanismwhich vetting instrumehtalitiesyl-is aside elevational' view of airearpor g 7 tion of'the machinepartsb'eing broken aw for aclarity,illustrating'the back portion of a power operated structure "for" lifting" the "cultivating 'instruinentality iron th'efcultivatin'gzone;r

"Fig. 5 is a perspective view 'co'rr plemental with Fig (if-and showing a cultivating instrumentality together with its;'asso'ciationwith the powersoilthrownjby the shovels 20. The beams 22 and 3' are pivotally m0untedinbearings26 and 21 of a steeringknuckle member 28 to facilitate the lifting andlowering of the shovels from and into the cultivating zone where they engage the soil, and also to facilitate vertical adjustment of the instrumentalities whereby the depth of the shovels 20 may be regulated in the soil.

, l constitutes part ofthe operating'connection be tween the machine steeringmechanisrn and cultia;

' Aipair of pressure rods 29 and 30 areconnected respectively. at their lowerends to the beams 22 stand 32] which abut at jthei'r lower ends against sjtopfmemberswjand 351 secured to the rods at I selective positions axially thereof; The] upper endsof thesprings '3 land 32 abut againsta plate iilewhich'has upon its under face a socket part3$ ofiia;'ball-andesocket joint 31; A thrust rodss operated assembly sho iwn in'FigA; this view also 7,

showin gfla partof the 'structtue operatively con mechanism and'th cultivating instrumentality;

p g-Fig.1 is adiagrammatieflview a; modified f'OT Ii'i I Of' apparatusfernployable in'lieu of vthat vshown-inFig.6.on-

1', j r 5 7 Referring now to the drawings,,the machine "uponwhich the invention; is installed-for illu's tr'ation is; seen to comprise a tractorjot which the 13" to. impart guiding movement Cultivatinginstrumen- 7, tie view illustrating ,a; pump ion supplying fiuid under, pressure and a control by meansoi which the pressure .or such "fluid is controlled in its application-to powerc-perated means forliitingthe cultivating instrll-- mentality irorn thefcultivating jzo'ne and 'for unlatching the" connection between the steering A 4Q ingi the shovels 2Bto operate at greater depth in 'thesoilp 330, the 1 steerin V has upon its forw'ard end'aballportionfiil consti tuting the otheripart of said'joint 3'1; "Said plate 35 is mounted uponthe' upperend of a U-shaped bracketn lii pivotally carried at its lowerend upon thesteeringknuckle 28 where it ismounted upon a, bolt 41. It will'be seen therefore that should the thrust rod Babepulledbackwardly or to the left as viewed in Fig.5, the bracket 46 will constrain theplate 35 th ioilow an arcuate path backr wardly and downwardly whereby the springs?! r and: 32 areconipressed for 'yieldably urging the cultivating in's'trumen'talitydownwardly forfcaus- (the pressure rods 29 andefi 'anditiwill'be seen Q that when-the thrust rod 38 is moved endwise forwardlythat theplate 35 will sli'de along said rods iorepartis shownin EigsQ lqand 5; and1ofwhich thezrearzpart, together; with-one of'the driving j wheels, ,l9,.is"shown' ii1;Fig.:. Ihe forepart of 5 the tractor which includes aradiator-grille t ll is 7 supported upon a guiding wheel assembly I2 of dual-wheel: structure wherein there 1 are wheels fiS. The axle for the wheels l3.-is connected with I an upright spindle] 4 which is enclosed in a'housing-JE-below the. grille l l and'eof which a section is visible in each of Figspl and 2 throughian open-- Steering gear means o'ficon- 29 and fiil until it abuts th ese stop members, and as theplate 35 moves forwardly in the arcuate' jpath in which it is constrained to move by the bracket 40 the rods 28 and 39 together with the I cultivating.instrumentality will be lifted upward;

sly for lifting the shovelsill from-the cultivating .zone

Power-operated means iorinoving the thrust rod 38 endwise forwardly for displacing the cultivating "instrumentalities from the cultivating zone is illustrated in Figs. 4:, 6' and 7. Referring now to Fig.4 the backend; of the thrust rod 38 is shown pivotally connected with an upper end portion of a pivoted support arm 63 therefor by f means-Jot a .pin oi bolt r64. The pivoted'arm 63 tilling the soil adjacently' to and then-each side 1 of a crop row; and comprise cultivator shovels 20 supportedat the lower -'end*of-arcuate spring consists of a- U-shaped strap of Which the lower free'tends arepivotally carried upon. a: bolt 65 mountedina clamp member 66' clamped upon a housing 61 for the rear axle 68. A: bracket 69 is connected by carriage bolts 'lflwith an intermediate section of the thrust rodZiB and serves as a 'connectionfthereferwith the front end of the cylinder'part H "'ofia fluid-pressure responsive r'n'o tor' 'li. 'The cylinder head Ha'o'f the cylinder :1! isiprovided with'an' apertured lug 'Hb which is pivotally secured tothe bracket 69 by a bolt 80.

piston (not shown}- in the cylinder H is connected with a piston rod 73 slidably contained in I Means is provided -for connectingtheiU-shaped not be supplied "to -ei ther 'o fthe"Motors l2 and I20;P th'e thrust rods, of whihone'isshown in meinber 53" with the steering? mechanismo'f "the machinewhereby such pivotal movement-c fl the F 'i, ;sl -lj andflj 38-will-be in their rearfnost posir tion due to theforce'of the springs BG'and to the partsf 53 and 55 about-"th'e'vertical aXisHn the.

guide-wheel spindle I '4 can'be effected by maniplulating said steering mechanism; v'This co'nnec tioncomprises'an arm 51,:Figsl land 2, of: which 7 the huh or shank portionsurrounds andfi's' non ro tat i velysecured to-th'e guide wheel spindle I 4 by means of a set screw 58. A notch 59 in theg'fore' ward-endofi the arm' il 'comprisesa -part 'ofla' latch mechanism of which the other pai-t consists of an arni 60 l extending downwardly through slots 6Iand62 inthe legs'of the bracket 53 and having' its lower end pivd-tally; connected by means (not shown) upontherlower side of said lower the upper end of saidiarrni-ba'ckwardly for placing a sectionof saidarmwithin th'e notchiSlof the arm 51; When the: armies is in this ;v;1atchin"g relation with thei notchrfia these partsxrnobilizfe weight er 1' the cultivating instrumentalities,V, wherefore the latterewilli bein-the Icultivating v zonefland the latch arm 60 will be held bythe "spring'Sflin': the notch 59? of the latch'arm 57 for,

completingthe operable connection between the machine steeringez'nechanism andthe cultivating" 1 instrumentalities} Should the cultivating instrumentalitiejs veer too close toithe-crop rows at one whe elsel3 in? the direction to guideithe machine leg: A spring Shaving opposit'e of its end's con- V nectedrespectivelywith'aniintermediate portion of'theiarm (land with the bo1tf55 norma1lyurges side; correction is.made.'by turning the. guide oppositely tothe direction of such veering, and, pursuant to rotation of the guide wheel spindle It in the execution of this turning. of; the Iguide wheels; the earm fil and the U-shaped 'member'f 53 latched thereto are rotated to move the tie rods 50 .and V5] 'in the direction. toKshift the instrurnentalitiesfin theidirectionfthe Vehicle is steered, :The length Qofnthe knuckle arms IQa andwthe distance'ibetween the axis in' the-spindle orcompletefthe operating jc'onnectio-n between theg'uide wheels spindlei 'lfand 'the steering knuckle members-:28 wherefore lupon oscillative movement ofsaid spindle thetU-shaped me'mher and the'suppo-rt member 55' will becaused to V inove'ineu'nisonwiththelarm5.1 andsaid spindle l for imparting the aforesaid'endwise movement-to the tie'rodsinandil; o 1

Fluid fromthe pumps P or alsoternployed for operating ae secondrmotorglzo, Figs, Land 3, 7 which-I-':'empIoy: for f'unlatchin the latch "meshianism. comprising the notch 5,9 in the arm '51 and the pivoted arm 6i}. "-Themotor I20is'carried;b e-,

- tweenxuprights. legs IVZI and I22 of a-bracket l2i3 bf WhiCh fIlhefbaSe secured to therU-shaped member '53z asby-welding or by a;bolt; iUniversal 5 joint-means is used for: mountingthe. motor. upon.

I4 and; pivot ,bolt .54 for connecting'the tie rods f '50 and 5I1with the U shaped memberg53' are so chosen-' thahlittle rotationlofzithe'spindle, will 7 7 cause -rela'tively, great IdiSPIZQEIfigDt of zsaid in-q I strumentalities; While this construction makes I it"necessary -to n1anipulatethei steering mechanism but little to guide the instrum'entalities as desired along the'crop rows, it becomes necessary:

, to disconnect the steering mechanismfrom-said instrumentalities when makinga sharp mm: with said "bracket, r-r'lhis universal joint; means I in- V v cludesarrectangular bandIZd havin'gfopposite of its-fsides I;25; and I26 rpivotallygconnnected. with 1 theY-JegsQI'EI rand" I22 by, trunnion 1301138121.

Backwardly extending gaperturediears I 28 respectively in; the: upper; and lower :sides of ,the emberltzd aretraversedrbypivot pins aIZQ-V'up'on which-apertured ears Ififlat opposite edges of the back cylinder headi-il of the.-mo-torilzll1 are' pivoted. The, motor; ;I 2 3 includes; a cylindrical side .wall 132- havingithe,cy1inder;'-head- I3I at .itsl-back end and a cylinder head I33, at its f orward end. For long bolts E34 extend lengthwise of thelmotor,gexteriorly of the'cylinder; fI3Z and through openingsin edge portions-ofthecylinder heads I3I-and I33{;f0r;.clampin such cylinder heads firmlyl onto 1 the ends of; thecylinder.

towhich one end .011 a conduit I31 is connected. Theopposite end of the conduit I31;v shown in Figsnl, 6 and '7 is connected withrtheTi-coupling member I [i4 previously described A pistonifI38 reciprocal: within the cylinder I 32 'operatesa pistoni rod I39 connected therewith 'andlexten'dingf outwardly through an opening I40 in the cylinder head I33; The fo'rward e-nd ofthe-piston rod I39 7' is pi votally' connected to the upper end-of the v adjustable 'aiially'of the piston rod, and'a'pivot pin "I42: traversing the upper end of,thefarm B e j ithe eration or the niachinegthe control its 108 will normally occupy theqpositionshown in Figs; 6 and 4 so that: fluid under pressure will Cyli'nder 'head. 13 i isprovided with ath'readejd "opening '(not shown) for receiving; arnippleij-ai I the 7 machine, js o steering; manipulation will; be.

untrarnrnelled at that timee When the end of th crop ,rowis reached theoperatonpulls upwardlyg'and ibackwardlyjupc-n'the control: stem n I08 toimanipulate the valve 93, Fig. fi fo'r delivery of pressure fluid simultaneously through the conduits f ql and I 3;l to theginotors J2 ;and I25. The diameter of the'cylinder I32 andof 'the, piston I38 in th'e motor lfil is suflicient for thismotor to V developpower atrelativelylow pressure fort-sub t stantiall5finstantaneous release o :the latch arm from then otch fig in arin 'l;

er b freeing 7 the"steeringniechanism from the cultivating instrumentalities so -'it may he manipulated for turning the [guide wheels I3 sharplyjnexecuting a turning about for 'st'artiri'g' Ebackacross the field along" different orop rows Si n ce the; "motor I20 operates practicallyinstantaneously the per torfcan wait untilthev-endsofvthecrop rows are 1 reached' bfore operating thelcontrol ste nr I08, wherefore the cultivating instruinentalities need not be lifted prematurely ln'order to have the steering mechamsnireleas'ed froin the cultivating instrurnentalities in time toexecute the turning about, Eventuallythe pressure oi fluid delivered the; inotor P into the conduits B I and; I3! is um' iei e for operatingfthe rnotor 12 for raising the cultivating instrumentalities, and this raising i'thereof niay takezplace during-theinitial part of Y the turnin'g about sincen meuy there will befno m n to be injured thereby finf the extreme end inverters-r5 12 and? a fa mensaiakhfute I disengaged thejfluid willescape backthro'iighithe the scope and spirit thereof and mIclaim: t r 1. Ina dirigible agricultural machine wherein y maiis aieaise sievraeeat i l-m fa "here'sana itsiassteieted'qsms lawman,

fiaaapn seeuieeme mavhswseotnerams aaay 'ear as tem s nvaciaah emma blade;

V mesasaiso wnmelrmesiiaeiser rn tiie fcrwsi depssmee At -swa rwueiitn e'ormwis eseapme ameumm I wasanismiieu psiitresqst aiitmem j PW I were maek or wosdf 6r a 6otter m, 6 t!iat' tfie i 1 t me die wrnsy ue aammimeehfwm'aflaneuag,

mpesinenieeme o mpea maisw ea piifnpforfde en'efgibing the motors. l 1

While I have herein shownand described; pret ferred embodiments with ther v iew offully illus-I t; the i a; v a a use 1 we'emeasn leaflets trating the invention, it should be understood rangements, structures and details falling within of itsmaterialad vantages. s

there is a crop cultivating instrumentality releasably connecte'dwith steering mechanism 01' t the machine for adjustment relatively to the crop;

not sacrificing all' t that thejinvention extends to otheriorms, ar

t i i l i maiig me eeiatwsrsamurai ztmiirisai saber-steer emiiltn'te ssrmmtdr i Qfor controllingthe energization thereof. a

*5 In a dirigible agricultural machine wherein there is acrop cultivating instrumentality releasably connected with steering mechanism of' the 7 machine for-1 adjustment relatively to the crop i within a cultivating :IZOiie" in accordance with reasami'geeaac eZi With EMriiigEneEhanismF f. ttnehaemne tor adjfisminti'latively tb the crop a clinician'g tachei m aebraariee with sterageimah iiuiatfim aif saia nieigamsinytiie v eeiiibniat sn oe nieaii k operable to A steerage manipulation of said mechanismjf-the within a cultivating zone inaccordance with said zone; controlmeans manipulatable for causj steer-age manipulation of said mechanismgthecombination of power-operated displacing means Woperable 'to displace said instrumentality from ing operation of saidjdisplacing means, and

power-operated releasing means operable to 're-r lease the connection of said instrumentality with i the steering mechanism, said releasing means also beingunder controlof said controlmeans to be caused therebywto operate coordinately with the manipulation thereof 1 for initiating operation ofthe displacing means.

2. In a dirigible agriculturalmachine wherein 1 there is a crop cultivating'instrumentality releasably connected with steering mechanism of the machine for adjustment relatively to the crop within a cultivating zone in} accordance with steerage manipulationfof i said mechanism; the combination of powergoperated displacing means operable to; displace said instrumentality from I said zone; control means manipulatable fortcaus ingoperation of said displacingmeans, and releasing means operable substantially instantaneously to release the connection of saidinstruleasing means being undercontrol or said control means and caused thereby to operatecoordinat'ef mentality. with the steering mechanism, said rea I 'conibination' 'of ".a fluideprssurei responsive moe' tor operably associatedlwith theconnection be- V f tween the steering mechanism'andsaid instru mentality and operable to release said connection when subjectedflto a fluid pressure difier'entialfi a second fluid pressure responsive motorjopen 1 ably associatedwith said.instrumentalitvjand i "operable to displace said instrumentality jrom the cultivating Zone t'when' subjectedto a fluid 1 pressure jdif ferential, a source for fluidat predetermined pressure to createthe aforesaid pressure differential with respect to said motors when 'theyar subjected to such fluid, and meansfor causing operation of the firstmotor prior to sub I 7 stantial operation of the second motor, compris i-ng control means manipulatableto s'ubjectfeach v of ,saidmotorsto the pressure of thefiuid at" said source. t

a 6. In a machine of the classdescribedwhereinf a crop cultivating instrumentallty is releasably connected with steering apparatusand is. dis placeable from a crop cultivating zone flthe combination of a fluid-pressure responsive motor operably associatedvwith the connection between the steering mechanism and 'sai dhinstrumenr tality and operable to release said connection a when subjected to a fluid pressure differential,

a second fluid-pressure responsive motor operably associated with said instrumentality and operable to displace saidinstrumentality from the cultivating zone 'when subjected to a fluid i pressurediflerenti al, a source-for fluid-at pree i staircasescan .' i6: v t

determine .nre ureto creat 'ltheaiore idtp se ,sure differentialiwith respect, to, said motors when they t areqsubiec ed. to su h mid, a d c t o .meansn'manipulatable for concurrently --subjectin'g 'saidmotorstothe'pressure of fluid at said source,

andttthe first m'oton bei ia e ble by. le s ressure di erent al ha he e ond mo r-w e e y. the first t r op rates first,,.-up n' .uch ma lation of the control mean-s, to;cause release of t j anae u ial in ud iel er .i e ec a 'ha n a mov b e t to w ic movement is'imparted in accordance with steer-V s mampulation orv saidmecha sm. and ac .tivating i'nstrumentality; the combination of con ..necting means releasahlyconnectiblebetween; the V steering mechanism and said instrumentality for causing adjustment or said instrumentality in mechanism; ,said connecting means comprising a tieerod connected with said instrumentality, complemented latch;.membeifs-irespectivdy asso:

t d With said t ero pandw th s id, m va e, Pa t t er tmefih nism andcpe ap e, when engaged, toconnect said connecting means latch member into. the other of i-ts'positioriswhen I subjected to operating fluid. 1,-

8- an eri l ur lm e ns 11 right spindle oscillative- Withand pursuan ,to pivotal adjustment of a guide Wheel of such'machine, anda cultivating instrumentality to be adjusted in accordance with oscillative move J V merit 1 0i, saidspindlmthe combination of means .for efiectingan operative connection between adjustment jof the latter-infaccordance with ossaid spindle and, said instrumentality; to cause cillatiue movement of the spindle, comprising a spindl 1 extension members oscillative with said spindle, a support member adjacently; tojthe extension member and journalledi substantially V eluding parts respectively on the extension and L accordance with steering manipulation of said 7 said adl'ustr nent of said-instrumentality whensaid; support, rnember-is latched by said parts to V for operation as'aforesaid between the ;steering mechanism 1 and said. inistrumeritalit'y, one of said latch members being movable between [positions respect in and-ont'o hen's gement wi h h o r; s rin me ns s n vsaid one; th V 7 member? toward one-oi said positions and s u e r s n e mo r- CQ I EQtB wi s i one latch member andr operable mo -move: said therefor.

support membersand engageable to cause said members to osc illate together with the spindle, and means; connecting the, support member with o the cultivating instrumentality to cause the aforethe spindle extension member, andmeans for distorissubjectedto the pressure-oi operating fluid emi "G. nor-n 

